Josephus, Flavius.
The works of Flavius Josephus. Containing, I. The life of Josephus, as written by himself. II. The antiquities of the Jewish people; with a defense of those antiquities, in answer to Apion. III. The history of the martyrdom of the Maccabees; and the wars of the Jews with the neighbouring nations till the final destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman power. IV. Account of Philo's ambassy from the Jews of Alexandria, to the Emperor Caius Caligula.London: Pr. for Fielding & Walker by Henri Lion 4to (27.2 cm, 10.75"). 2 vols. I: Frontis., 719, [1] pp. (lacking list of subscribers); 44 (1 fold.) plts., 7 maps (1 fold.). II: Frontis., [2], 644, [28 (index)] pp.; 16 (of 17) plts.. 177778 First edition, "Newly Translated from the Original Greek, by Ebenezer Thompson, D.D. and William Charles Price, L.L.D." Josephus (b. A.D. 37) provides one of the very few non-biblical sources of Jewish history; the Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, though noting the author's lack of prestige among Talmudic rabbis and his tendency to "omit and add" where he saw fit, says, "Writing a history of the Jews which non-Jews would read and believe, Josephus was an innovator in bringing together references to the Jews to be found in non-Jewish histories" (1942 ed., VI, 200). The 1910 edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia adds that these works are "our only sources for many historical events . . . the value of the statements is enhanced by the insertion of dates which are otherwise wanting, and by the citation of authentic documents which confirm and supplement the Biblical narrative."The two volumes are illustrated with a total of => 69 copper-engraved plates (out of 70 called for), including a number of maps, all engraved by several different hands after the work of various artists. Period-style quarter mottled calf with marbled papercovered sides, leather edges blind-tooled, spines with gilt-stamped leather title-labels and gilt-stamped compartment decorations. Front fly-leaf of vol. II with 19th-century inked gift inscription. Vol. I lacking list of subscribers; vol. II lacking one plate ("The Death of Caius Caesar"). Light to moderate spotting and staining throughout; some offsetting to and around plates. One leaf torn from outer edge, narrowly missing text. => A sound, handsome set fine for working or playing with.
[Bookseller: Philadelphia Rare Books & Manuscripts Co]